NDSU Researcher Explains $15 Billion U.S. Ag Export Losses Tied to Tariffs

North Dakota State University’s Dr. Shawn Arita joins us to break down new research on U.S. ag export losses tied to retaliatory tariffs and what they signal for trade moving forward.

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA (RFD NEWS) — A new report shows U.S. agricultural exporters have lost nearly $15 billion in sales to China due to retaliatory tariffs, with soybean exports accounting for the largest share of the losses.

Dr. Shawn Arita from North Dakota State University joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to take a closer look at the findings and what they mean for U.S. agriculture trade.

In his interview with RFD News, Arita outlined the main conclusions of the report, which tracks significant losses in export demand tied to tariff retaliation. He explained that the study attributes the decline specifically to tariff impacts and also addresses broader questions about shifts in China’s purchasing behavior in the U.S. ag market.

Arita also compared the current trade environment to previous trade wars, noting differences in scale and market response. He discussed whether any of the lost U.S. agricultural business has been redirected to other global buyers and examined the overall distribution of trade flows following the tariffs.

Finally, Arita shared his key takeaways from the report and discussed what may be needed moving forward to help level the playing field for U.S. agriculture in global markets.

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Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

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